No Rest 13

Posted by adminj, ? Views, Released on September 7, 2025

Chapter 13

Sophia’s P.O.V

“You’re just a petty woman who can’t stand to see me happy, can you?”

My heart shattered at his words, and I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, not from the slap but from the sheer weight of his accusation. I opened my mouth to respond, to beg him to listen, to tell him how wrong he was, but the words got stuck in my throat. What was the point? He wouldn’t believe me–not with Gabriella standing there, the perfect picture of innocence.

Me? Not wanting to see him happy?

After everything I had sacrificed…after everything I had given up for him…my career, my family, everything…he still thought he had the right to say that?

But there was no remorse in Tristan’s eyes, no realization of how much his accusations were hurting me. And that told me that he was far beyond reasoning at this point of time.

So, instead, I dropped my hand from my cheek and straightened my spine, meeting his gaze with as much strength as I could muster. “You’re wrong,” I said, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to fall. “But if you can’t see that, then maybe you don’t know me at all.”

“It honestly seems like I don’t,” Tristan scoffed, his voice rough as he turned around and walked towards Gabriella, who all but ran into his arms, trembling and whimpering as if she were a glass doll ready to break at any moment.

“Tristan…please…” She whimpered, her voice cracking at perfect intervals. “Don’t fight with Sophia over me…this isn’t what I wanted…I’m so sorry for coming between you…”

I watched her, unable to move, unable to even fathom what just happened. How could she still play the victim after what had just happened? After all the lies she had strewn? All I wanted to do was reach across the room and slap some sense into her, but that would only make Tristan

hate me more.

Now, I realized that the false sense of victory I had during art class had come crashing down on me. Gabriella had taken revenge for her humiliation, but she hadn’t done so in front of everyone…she had done it in a way she knew would hurt me the most.

*Gabriella is shaken, and I won’t let her suffer because of you.” His tone cut through me, sharp and final, as though nothing I could say would change his mind. “She’s been through enough. I’m taking her to the seaside villa for the weekend so she can get over the trauma.”

“Trauma?” I repeated incredulously, stepping forward. “What trauma? What are you even talking about? This is absurd, Tristan! You’re not even giving me a chance to explain-”

But he was already turning away, dismissing me as though my words meant nothing. “We’re leaving for the villa,” he said over his shoulder, walking toward the grand staircase. “She needs time away from all of this, and I’m going to make sure she gets it.”

It was then that I noticed the luggage. Two large suitcases sat by the door, neatly packed and ready to go. My stomach dropped. This wasn’t a spur–of–the–moment decision. This was planned. He had already decided to take her away, to leave me behind, to choose her over me.

“You already packed, I murmured, more to myself than to him. My hands curled into fists at my sides as the realization settled like a weight on my chest. “You were going to leave no matter what I said, weren’t you?”

Tristan paused at the base of the stairs, his shoulders tense. For a moment, I thought he might turn back, that he might say something–anything -to make this hurt less. But he didn’t. Instead, he exhaled, and placing an arm around Gabriella, began to steer her towards the door.

I stood there, staring at the packed bags, at the empty space where my husband had just stood, and felt the first tear slip down my cheek. He had already made his choice. And it wasn’t me.